Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-22
TERRIBLY SUDDEN.
FRIeHrFUL DISASTER ON THE ERIE
RAILROAD.
In Express Train Bashes into Gang
Of Italian Lsborers-Twelve
Killed &c.
IBy telegraph to the Dlspaich.l

NEW YORK, July 2l.-One OF those
frightful accidents which come with APP
palling suddenness, when there is no
apparent reason why they could not
be easily avoided, took place this morn
ing on the Erie railroad between Allen
dale and Hohokus. The catastrophe
was attended with appalling loss OF life,
and over dozen mangled bodies onthe
track attested the neglect OF some one
whose duty it should have been to give
warning Of the impending disaster. A
gang of Italian laborers were at work
blasting on the railroad little distance
from sharp curve about three fourths
of q mile above HohOkus. The Chicago
express. which was due here before, had
not arrived, and these men, whose fore
man should have given warning whis-
tie when the train was approaching the
sharp curve, were busy at work, uncon-
scious Of the terrible fate which was Ill
store forthem. Ataquarter past clock
train No. II (express), which was due
On hour previous, rushed round the
curve before the men had the slightest
warning and dashed through them,
killing twelve or fifteen on the spot and
wounding many others. The shrieks
Of the victims were heartrending, and
when the train slowed up the track
presented the sickening sight of being
covered with mangled bodies, the rails
being spattered with blood and broken
limbs, pieces of ragged flesh being scat
tered in all directions Some OF the
bodies were mangled beyond descrip-
ton and crushed out of all semblance
of humanity. To most of the victims
death must have been instantaneous,
but some of them appeared to be yet
quiycnng and life ebbing away when
the train was brought to a standstlll.
There was only fifteen minutes delay
and the train which had wrought so much
disaster, proceeded on its way from
Glendale to Hohokus. The question
of who is to blame is yet to be settled,
but it is stated that it was the duty of
the foreman of the gang of laborers
10 watch for the approaching train,
and that he must have neglected to
give the warning whistle. Mr.. w. j..
Hudson, = passenger on the local train,
which was behind the Chicago express,
in conversation with q reporter de-
scribed the scene as ono Of the most
sickening that could be witnessed.
"Along the tracks" he said, "were
arms, legs, trunks. and other parts of
bodies, and the tracks for long dis
lance were slippery with blood. The
conductor of the train on which | rode
said that tho train-hands of the express
were not to blame. He believed the
foreman of the gang was responsible
for the disaster by neglecting to give
warning.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT or The DISASTER.
Another account Of the terrible acct
dent says that about 100 Italians were
at work On the road-bed when the train
came along. Tho Italian, stepped on
to tie other track to allow it TO pass,
hut Just then the Chicago express thun-
dered down on them AT the rate OF fifty
miles an hour and literally moved its
way through, singing the unforunates
right and left, tearing legs and arms
and heads off and grinding flesh
into the road-bed for 200 or
300 feet. SO fierce was the shock
that, although the engine struck
nothing but human beings, the power
ful cowcatcher was torn, twisted, and
broken into pieces. Some of the Italians
we're crowded against the rocks in \
very narrow space. The engineer of
the EXPRESS train reversed his engine
and VAS coming to stop, when the
passengers told him togoahcad. Look
ing back they saw the unin-
jured italians acting like ma
MACS. They were yelling, gestlcu-
lating, and tearing their clothes.
Some Lneoling and others dashing
about in the middle Of the CHASTITY
pile Of maneled bodies. When they
saw the train stopping they made a
rush for it, ard had thoy reached it
undoubtedly would have murdered the
engineer, fireman, and conductor. For
this reason it was deemed best to come
on to jersey City, where the engineer
and conductor were closeted with the
officers Of the road, and away from
WItIs lItF Colli 30 lut'i'ic"tu'
Mr.. March, the padrone who sup
plies the Erie Railroad Company with
its italian laborcrs, arrived early at
Paterson. IIs identified the men by
mean. Of their numbers. which are
written on slips and carried by the men
in little tin boxes. Six or seven hun
drGd dollars was found on the persons
of the dead men and was taken by
March to be handed by him to the
Italian Consul at New York in trust for
their relatives. MGrchs action was a
source of Indignation TO the other
Italians, who wanted to take charge Of
the money themselves. They would
have mob6ed him only for the timely
interference of two policemen.